Three scientists — Papaia, Banani, and Ravioli — and their assistant Igor, who work at NASAL, begin to take an interest in creationism. Alarmed, their superiors send them to see a psychologist: Professor Faggioli — a shady character determined to get them fired by making them seem insane.
We’re in Professor Faggioli’s office, and it’s Banani’s turn.
FAGGIOLI
Here in your file… there’s an interesting detail.
You’re partially deaf in one ear.
BANANI
(turning around)
Huh?
FAGGIOLI
(louder)
I said: are you deaf in one ear?
BANANI
Ah, sorry, I just bent over to check if my shoes were untied.
Yeah, I can’t hear out of this ear. It’s a long story.
FAGGIOLI
(taking notes)
We have time.
Tell me everything from the beginning. How did it happen?
Banani becomes serious for a moment, his gaze lost in a distant point on the ceiling.
BANANI
It happened when I was twelve… It was a night like any other, but I couldn’t sleep…
—
FLASHBACK — Interior, afternoon, Banani’s house garage. A light bulb hangs from the ceiling, casting a flickering cone of light.
Banani, in his pajamas, pushes the garage door open. Behind him, Henry follows yawning.
HENRY
Did you fix the Commodore 64?
BANANI
I’ve got something better here…
But you have to keep your mouth shut!
HENRY
Okay, okay… What is it, another one of your experiments?
Banani approaches his father’s metal cabinet, which is left open. With cautious reverence, he opens the door. Inside, wrapped in a black cloth, is the gun.
HENRY
Is… is it real?
BANANI
Yeah. My dad left it here. He didn’t even take it apart.
But don’t worry, I know how it works.
HENRY
Banani, I don’t know if this is a good idea…
BANANI
Just one shot. Just one can.
Then I’ll put it back exactly where it was. You just watch.
Banani sets up three cans on an overturned shelf. Then he grabs the gun and aims, awkwardly mimicking the position he’s seen in movies.
BANANI
I’ll shoot the target. It’s just like the river, only… inside. And with the parquet in the living room.
HENRY
Banani, this is a really bad id—
BANG!
The shot explodes. The echo reverberates through the entire garage like thunder in a box.
Banani falls to the ground, his hands on his ears. Henry screams, pales, then…
HENRY
(stepping back toward the door)
I… I’m leaving! I think I left the gas on!
Henry runs off as always. Banani stays sitting on the floor, his face contorted.
BANANI
(narrating)
One ear stopped working. The other one was ringing… loudly. For three days.
—
CUT — Interior, waiting room of the emergency room.
Banani’s parents are speaking animatedly with a doctor. Banani sits between them, with a dazed and muffled expression.
BANANI
(narrating)
My parents took me straight to the ER.
Then to specialists… five in total. But the diagnosis was always the same: permanent damage.
—
BACK TO PRESENT — Professor Faggioli’s office.
Banani looks at the floor, gently rubbing his right ear with his fingertips.
BANANI
And since that day… I can’t hear out of this side.
That’s also why sometimes… I answer the wrong questions.
FAGGIOLI
I understand. And your parents? How did they react?…
IGOR
They… shot him!
🤣🤣🤣